Here is a study of rationality and mind based on the earliest recorded stratum of Buddhism, the Pali Nikayas. The author makes a distinction between what can be said from within the context of the Buddhist texts themselves and what can be spoken of from the point of view of contemporary philosophy of religion.
Insights from philosophy of religion are employed to elucidate the texts without any overall imposition of any foreign 'ism' onto Buddhism. An attempt to understand something of the nature of religion by paying attention to one particular religion marks the philosophical side of the work. Combined with attention to the Pali texts, the approach which emerges is contextual and critically philosophical. The author is at once sympathetic to Early Buddhism as a system of religious belief and attentive to its philosophical difficulties.
The volume is primarily addresses to students of Buddhism. Scholars and researchers in the field of philosophical and religious studies will also find it interesting.


Rationality and Mind in Early Buddhism, Frank J. Hoffman, Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, Paperback, 126 pages, $11.00

Frank J. Hoffman, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Dept. of Philosophy at West Chester Un iversity and Visiting Scholar in the Dept. of Asian and Middle Eastern Sutdies at Universiety of Pennsylvania.

Contents

Preface

Chater One: Understanding Earlyy Buddhism

Chapter Two: Rationality and Logic

Chapter Three: Rationality and Pessimism

Chapter Four: Mind and Rebirth

Chapter Five: Mind and Verification

Chapter Six: The Deathless

Selected Bibliography

Index